Ripon colts arrived at Bower Park on Sunday feeling confident, following their recent victory over the Blackreds; this was to be their undoing. Stung by the defeat the Blackreds were fired up and not in a mood to allow anyone near the whitewash.
Hien Van Der Westhuizen, making a welcome return to Bower Park opened the scoring within 5 minutes of the kick-off, and Adam Birkett slotted over the extras with ease. From the restart Aspatria were back on the offensive; unfortunately the ball was knocked on in the ruck and a scrum was awarded to the visitors, the clearance kick found touch but the ever alert Olly Gray, took the throw quickly and Kris Borthwick quickly moved the ball wide, Jack Robinson finished off the move. Birkett added the conversion – 14.0.
Ripon had pace in their squad and ran hard at the Blackreds backline, this was never on; Paddy Foster, Borthwick, Robinson, Chris Scott, Ross Atherton and full back Gray were on hand the entire match with ferocious tackling. Inevitably, the ball was returned to Cumbrian hands and this time it was Scott who crossed for a deserved try. More of the same followed and Chris Simons and Birkett got in on the act for the forwards. Half time 33:0 - the home side looked comfortable.
In the second half the home supporters were treated to some wonderful counter rucking from the Blackreds. The props got in on the scoring act when James Ravell having scored his first senior try on Saturday for the Eagles against the old enemy Wigton, forced his way through a mass of bodies to ground the ball for Aspatria’s 6th try of the game which Chris Scott improved. 40:0
Ripon made the mistake of kicking the restart short, Ravell took the ball beautifully and set off on a charge up the field, stepping the first tackler, handing off the second with all the grace of a charging rhino, 2 more to beat, he’s bound to get stopped, again dancing feet saw him round the tackler with only a brave full back left. He made a gallant attempt at stopping the big prop but it was in vain as Ravell brushed aside his brave efforts and flopped over behind the posts for his third try of the weekend - 47:0. Johnny Sandwith, prop, also making a welcome return was next to get in on the act, driven over by the rest of the pack – 52:0. Both props were exceptional throughout the match.
The next wave of attack by the now rampant home team was finished off by Birkett with a sweetly taken drop goal from about 30 metres out. Ripon threw everything they had at Aspatria for the next couple of minute and managed to reach the 22 metre line for only the second time, more crunching tackling from the backs saw the ball dislodged and it was quickly swept up by Atherton who showed his pace and raced around a very tired and battered Ripon defence to score under the posts. 62:0.
The referee had seen enough by now and put Ripon out of their misery a few minutes early. What a lovely way to end what had been a very gloomy weekend for Aspatria rugby, there is a light at the end of the tunnel guys but it is a few years of being a roaring flame yet, a wonderful performance from everybody, remember some of these lads played a full game for the Eagles on Saturday.
Players who deserve special mention are, firstly scrum half Sam Carter who having made a wonderful break was brought down 5 metres short and failed to score and he is not going to be allowed to forget it on the trip to Ryton that awaits them this Sunday. Secondly, Adam Birkett showing everyone why Newcastle Falcons have such a high opinion of him.
Your next opportunity to cast an eye over the Colts is 19th of April when a touring team from Fleetwood RUFC will be the opposition, 1pm kick off.
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